Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Energy Airforce opens with a choice that says a lot about its personality. You can jump into Dogfight or Arcade mode when the urge to fly something fast wins out, or you can commit to the longer road: training, license tests, and the gradual unlocking of more demanding missions and aircraft. Starting with the F-16 makes that path feel grounded. You are not immediately treated like the pilot of every jet in the hangar; you have to put in the work.

That Gran Turismo-like structure is the game’s strongest idea. License tests can make a simulator feel less like a pile of options and more like a skill ladder, and Energy Airforce uses them to give each advancement some weight. When a more advanced aircraft becomes available, it is tied to progress rather than simple menu browsing. Gamers who like practicing until a task finally clicks will find a solid reason to keep moving forward.

The potential frustration is equally clear: this is a realistic flight simulator, and the career route asks for patience before it offers its larger rewards. If you want instant access to the F/A-22 Raptor or X-35 JSF, being limited to the F-16 at the start can feel restrictive. Fortunately, Dogfight and Arcade mode keep that seriousness from becoming a wall. They let you sample the airborne conflict without treating every session as homework.

It is a better fit for someone who enjoys the process of becoming more capable than for someone chasing nonstop spectacle. The free modes make it easier to dip in, but the real payoff comes from accepting the structured climb and treating the tests as part of the fantasy of military aviation.

Graphics

The real aircraft are the main attraction: the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-22 Raptor, and X-35 JSF give the game a recognizably modern military lineup. First- and third-person viewpoints also let you approach its flying from more than one angle, whether you prefer staying close to the pilot’s perspective or watching the aircraft in motion.

Story

Energy Airforce frames its momentum through advancement rather than a character-driven tale. The training-and-license route gives you a clear personal arc: begin with the available F-16, prove you can handle the required challenges, then move toward more advanced missions and aircraft.

That is a modest but effective kind of motivation for a simulator. Instead of needing dramatic plot turns, the game asks whether you want the next qualification badly enough to improve. For the right gamer, passing a test can carry more satisfaction than a scripted briefing ever could.

The alternate modes change that rhythm completely. Dogfight and Arcade mode are there for the evenings when you want the aircraft and the action without investing in the longer progression path. It is a sensible split between a structured pilot career and a quick-flight detour.

Overall Experience

Energy Airforce is at its best when you meet it halfway. Give the license system a chance, and its slow opening turns into a meaningful runway toward better missions and more advanced jets. The progression has a purpose that many aviation games miss: it makes access to the hardware feel earned.

Not every gamer will want that gatekeeping. A player who bought in solely for the Raptor or JSF may find the initial F-16-only restriction irritating, especially if training tests are not their idea of fun. But the inclusion of Dogfight and Arcade options means impatience does not have to end the session.

Recommended for flight-sim fans who appreciate structured learning and military aircraft with real-world names attached. It is not built around immediate abundance; it is built around the satisfaction of working up to it. If that sounds appealing, Energy Airforce’s disciplined approach is worth the time.

Retro Replay Score

7/10